33 - Reasons For Electoral Failures Of The Conservative Party, 1997-2007 Flashcards
Who won 3 successive electoral victories?
Blair
How much of the electorate voted in 2001? How much in 2005?
59%
61.4%
What did many commentators put the lower voting turnouts down to? Why?
Voter apathy
Blair was thought to be able to easily win
What did other commentators believe people were becoming disillusioned with? What system did they believe lacked support?
Politics
Political system
How did the Conservatives look? Who was well-respected despite this?
Tired and lackluster
Party leaders
What did the Tories not offer a viable alternative to?
Labour
What fundamental problem continued to bitterly divide the Tories?
Europe
When was William Hague leader of the Conservatives? Who resigned in 1997?
1997-2001
Major
Who was the obvious leader to take over from Major? What was an issue with him that cost him widespread support?
Clarke
Too pro-Europe
What faction of the Tory Party was Hague associated with? What stance did he concentrate too much on in the 2001 election?
Right
Anti-European stance
Why was the Tory Party under Hague considered too narrow to be an alternative to Blair?
Hague’s anti-European stance
When was Iain Duncan Smith leader of the Tories? How was he seen?
2001-03
Uncharismatic
Which leader performed poorly in Parliament against Blair? Who replaced him in 2003?
IDS
Howard
When was Michael Howard leader of the Tory Party? What role did he hold in Major’s government?
2003-05
Home Secretary
What quality did Howard command? How did he perform in Parliament?
Widespread respect
Well